Sample Validation Assessment

Sample Multiple Choice Questions

1. Jeffery Greenaway, age 53 is admitted to the hospital with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). On inspection the nurse notes that he has a barrel chest. While palpating Mr. Greenaway's thorax, the nurse assesses respiratory excursion. What does this technique assess?

  • chest movement
  • breath sounds
  • lung vibration
  • voice sounds
  • fremitus
Answer: a. Respiratory excursion is a technique that assesses the extent and symmetry of chest movement.

2. Which of the following heart sounds is a common and often normal finding in the older adult?

  • Third heart sound
  • Fourth heart sound
  • Opening snap
  • Ejection click
  • Soft diastolic murmur

Answer: b. The fourth heart sound is often considered a normal finding in the older adult and occurs with a stiff/non compliant ventricle. All other sounds are abnormal in the older adult.

3. To assess the facial nerve (CN VII), the nurse should ask the client to

  • swallow.
  • clench teeth.
  • raise the shoulders against resistance.
  • differentiate between the different scents of coffee and cloves.
  • raise and lower the eyebrows.

Answer: e. Cranial Nerve VII is assessed by testing movement of the facial expression muscles and by evaluating taste on the anterior two thirds of the tongue.

4. Helen McCullen, age 70, has shingles, a disorder that produces lesions along the course of cutaneous nerves. Which term best describes this lesion configuration?

  • Annular
  • Linear
  • Arciform
  • Herpetiform
  • Reticular

Answer: d. Herpetiform

5. Lucy Bowes brings her son Johnny , age 5, to the ARNP's office because he has had a fever of 102 degrees F (38.9 degrees C) and a persistent cough for 48 hours. As part of the assessment, the nurse inspects Johnny's tonsils. The nurse recognizes normal tonsils as

  • being pink in color, irregular in texture, and located between the anterior and posterior pillars.
  • being pale pink in color, smooth in texture, and located in front of the pillars.
  • being pink in color, rough in texture, and located between the pillars and the uvula.
  • being pale red in color, smooth in texture, and located on the hard pallet.
  • being red in color, irregular in texture, and located behind the uvula.

Answer: a. The tonsils are found between the pillars and should appear slightly pink with an irregular texture.


Sample fill-in Questions

1. On examination of a young boy's skin, you note an elevated, firm, flesh colored, circumscribed area that is less than one cm in diameter. This lesion is called a/an __________________?

Answer: papule

2. Asking questions about use of herbal preparations is covered in which area of the health history?

Answer: The Present Health Status

3. The color of a normal tympanic membrane is ___________________?

Answer: translucent and pearly gray

4. When examining the eyelids of an 89 year old woman you notice an eversion of the lower lid with exposure of the palpebral conjunctiva. This finding is called _____________________?

Answer: Ectropion

5. When auscultating over the pulmonic area, you would place your stethoscope over _______?

Answer: Second left intercostal space next to the sternum.


Sample Short Answer Questions

1. Describe the technique used for palpating the liver.

2. Discuss four cultural communication differences that will directly impact how you perform a health history and a health examination.

3. How would you handle a situation in which the individual cries during the interview? What if the person were to suddenly become angry?

4. Discuss what health assessments you should perform when a client comes in complaining of impaired sensation to the left leg?

5. A 37 year old man comes to you with a chief complaint of tiredness and feeling weak all of the time. What additional information do you need to collect?

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